It's
time for the latest weekly round-up of interesting
links
about speculative
fiction from
around the web, this week with the 2023 Worldcon in Chengdu, China, Star Trek Lower Decks and Star Trek in general, Star Wars in general, Loki and the crisis of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in general, season 2 of Our Flag Means Death, season 2 of Invincible, season 2 of The Wheel of Time, Gen V, Bodies, The Fall of the House of Usher, Five Nights at Freddy's, tributes to Richard Moll and Sherrie Cronin, the debate about AI generated writing and art, a whole lot of horror and much
more.
Speculative fiction in general:
- Cheryl Eddy shares 44 new science fiction and fantasy books coming out this November.
- Publishers Weekly share their favourite science fiction, fantasy and horror novels of 2023.
- James Wallace Harris wonders if science fiction has left him behind.
- James Davis Nicoll shares five science fiction visions of societies free from rules, regulations or effective government
- Jasmine Mithani reports that speculative fiction by Latinx authors isn't getting the support it needs.
- Rocio Quispe Agnoli talks about science fiction from Peru.
- Mariano Villareal talks about the speculative fiction scene in Spain.
- Suzan Palumbo declares that storytelling is part of the heart of the Caribbean soul
- Alex Brown shares five underrated backlist science fiction and fantasy titles dealing with journeys
- Neil McRobert reports about the horror fiction renaissance.
- Moid Moidelhof shares a history of science fiction horror.
- Adriana Chartrand explains why horror fiction matters for telling indigenous stories
- Adam Sass talks about queer horror.
- Silvia Moreno-Garcia traces the history of the literary vampire from John Pollidori to Bram Stoker and beyond.
- Adrian Van Young talks about the allure of the literary monster.
- Lisa Kröger and Melanie R. Anderson explain what we are writing about when we write about ghosts
- James Davis Nicoll shares five gripping ghost stories from the last decade.
- Grady Hendrix shares some tips for what to do when you accidentally find yourself in possession of a haunted house.
- Tyler Malone talks about classrooms and school settings in horror.
- Libby Klein shares spooky cozy mysteries for Halloween.
- Lindsay Merbaum shares five cocktails and one mocktail inspired by famous literary ghosts
- Molly Templeton talks about her to-be-read pile.
- Christopher Cokinos revisits Orson Welles' famous 1938 radio play adaptation of H.G. Wells' War of the Worlds.
- Leeds Library profiles Mary Shelley.
- GennaRose Nethercott takes a look at the coincidences that led Mary Shelley to write Frankenstein.
- Liam's Lyceum shares his appreciation for the works of Fritz Leiber.
- Stephen King talks about the most recent mass shooting in Maine.
- Science fiction writer Sherrie Cronin has died aged 68.
- SFWA remembers Sherrie Cronin.
Comics and Art:
- Publishers Weekly share their favourite comics and graphic novels of 2023.
- Rosie Knight reports about the struggles of comic writers and artists.
- James Whitbrook reports that the new Ulitmate Spider-Man comic will feature Peter Parker and Mary Jane as a happily married couple with two children.
- Crossexamining Crime shares their thoughts on some comic adaptations of classic Agatha Christie mysteries.
- Karen Haber reviews Creature: Paintings, Drawings, and Reflections by Shaun Tan and Chivalry by Neil Gaiman and Colleen Doran
- Joshua L.H. Burnett profiles Alex Raymond, creator of Flash Gordon, Secret Agent X-9 and Rip Kirby.
- Deuce Richardson shares his appreciation for the Art Noveau and Art Deco fantasy artwork of John Austen.
- Anne To reports that Geoffrey’s Comics in Torrance, California, and Hi De-Ho Comics in Santa Monica, California, two of the oldest comic shops in the Los Angeles region, are closing down.
Film and TV:
- Germain Lussier shares the best science fiction, fantasy and horror films and TV shows streaming in November.
- Phil Hoad calls Blank an AI thriller that's Misery meets Ex Machina
- Catherine Bray calls The Bystanders a low burdget science fiction comedy full of scrappy energy.
- Wendy Ide calls the latest incarnation of Dcktor Jekyll a double dose of embarrassment.
- Peter Bradshaw calls Fingernails a bizarre science fiction love story and praises the performance of Jessie Buckley.
- Cheryl Eddy declares that the Swedish horror film The Conference blends drama, gore and pitch-black humor.
- Michael Kraus declares that the new Goosebumps mixes its source material with satisfying results.
- Leila Latif calls The Enfield Poltergeist a filmsy documentary on one of the best documented haunted house cases of allo time.
- Charles Bramesco calls Sly a dull documentary about Sylvester Stallone.
- Charlie Jane Anders wonders why it is so hard for Hollywood to create brand-new heroes.
- The Guardian's film critics list overdone movie clichés.
- Lorna Wallace lists six horror films so bad they're good.
- Michael Hogan shares thirteen terrifying TV episodes to watch for Halloween.
- Readers of The Guardian share their scariest movie moments.
- Leah Schnelbach ranks her favourite filmic exorcists.
- Olivia Rutigliano revisits the 1933 horror film The Invisible Man.
- Sandy Ferber revisits the 1945 horror film Woman Who Came Back and the 1964 horror film Witchcraft.
- Cheryl Eddy revisits the 1966 animated Halloween special It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
- Sandy Ferber revisits the 1975 horror film Psychic Killer.
- Carlos Aguilar revisits the 1993 animated film The Nightmare Before Christmas for its thirtieth anniversary.
- Judith Tarr revisits the 2017 fantasy film The Shape of Water.
- Ruthanna Emruys and Anne M. Pillsworth revisit the 2017 horror film Get Out!
- Ethan Sabatella shares his appreciation for the Evil Dead trilogy.
- James Hibberd interviews Lena Headey, who starred in Game of Thrones, The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Masters of the Universe: Revelation, Beacon 23, 300 and many others.
- The Guardian interviews Richard Armitage, star of The Hobbit trilogy, Spooks and many others as well as debut crime fiction author.
- Linda Codega interviews Amber Noizumi and Michael Green, writers and showrunners of Blue Eye Samurai.
- Dan Sarto interviews Jim Cooper, Jeff Dixon and Leo Riley, creators of the animated series Curses!
- Sabina Craves interviews Brian Volk-Weiss, producer of the theme park documentary Behind the Attraction.
- Cheyenne Roundtree reports that Casey Bloys, HBO's president of original programming, used fake Twitter accounts to harrass TV critics who had negatively reviewed HBO shows.
- Ben Child wonders what the true story behind Amber Heard's diminished role in Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom is.
- Denise Petski reports that Superman and Lois will end after the upcoming fourth season.
- David Barnett reports that the British horror film studios Hammer and Amicus have been resurrected for the twenty-first century.
- Monica Bushman explains why so many films are shot in Passadena and South Passadena, California.
- Ryan Gilbey shares an obituary for Richard Roundtree.
- Former child actress Judy Nugent, best known for a memorable guest appearance in The Adventures of Superman, has died aged 83.
- Actor Matthew Perry, best known for playing Chandler in the longrunning sitcom Friends has died aged only 54.
Comments on Star Wars in general (spoilers):
Comments on Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek in general:
- Keith R.A. DeCandido shares his thought on "Old Friends, New Planets", the season 4 finale of Star Trek: Lower Decks.
- James Whitbrook shares his thought on "Old Friends, New Planets".
- Dan Sarto interviews Mike McMahan, creator of Star Trek: Lower Decks.
- Camestros Felapton shares his thoughts on season 2 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
- Galactic Journey revisits the 1968 Star Trek episode "Spectre of the Gun".
- Keith R.A. DeCandido revisits the Star Trek Enterprise episode "United".
- Randee Dawn shares the seven greatest Star Trek parodies, spoofs and homages.
- Vanessa Armstrong reports that the long lost model of the USS Enterprise from the original Star Trek may have been found.
Comments on Loki, The Marvels and the Marvel Cinematic Universe in general:
- William Hughes shares his thoughts on "Heart of the TVA", the latest episode of Loki.
- Sabina Graves shares her thoughts on "Heart of the TVA"
- Melody McCune shares her thoughts on "Heart of the TVA".
- Brian Davids interviews Eric Martin, head writer of Loki.
- Brian Davids interviews Natalia Holt, who composed the score for Loki.
- Eric Italiano interviews Shawn Levy, director of Deadpool 3.
- Tatiana Siegel reports about various problems facing Marvel Studios.
- Ben Child also discusses the crisis at Marvel Studios.
- Serpentor's Lair wonders whether the Marvel Cinematic Universe has lost its magic following Avengers: Endgame.
- Borys Kit reports that Daredevil Born Again has a new showrunner and new directors.
- Mary Kate Carr reports that Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Avengers Endgame diector Joe Russo has fired back against Martin Scorsese's latest volley against superhero movies.
- Watch a trailer for The Marvels.
- Watch a clip from The Marvels.
Comments on season 2 of Our Flag Means Death:
Comments on season 2 of The Wheel of Time:
Comments on season 2 of Invincible:
Comments on Bodies:
Comments on Gen V:
Comments on The Fall of the House of Usher:
Comments on Five Nights at Freddy's:
- Luke Y. Thompson calls Five Nights At Freddy's light on fright
- Sabina Graves declares that the animatronics steal the show in Five Nights at Freddy's.
- Rebecca Rubin reports that Five Night At Freddy's has exceeded box office expectations.
- Brooks Barnes reports that Five Nights at Freddy's is a surprise box office hit.
- Cheryl Eddy reports that Five Nights at Freddy's is also breaking streaming records and is now the most streamed film of all time on the Peacock streaming service.
Comments on the apparent end of the Fantastic Beasts series:
Tributes to Richard Moll:
- Actor Richard Moll, who appeared in Night Court, Batman: The Animated Series, Spider-Man: The Animated Series, Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn, House, Caveman and many others, has died aged 80.
- Mike Barnes shares an obituary for Richard Moll.
- Justin Carter remembers Richard Moll's voice acting work in Batman: The Animated Series and others.
Comments on the SAG-AFTRA strike:
Awards:
- The winners of the 2023 World Fantasy Awards have been announced.
- The winners of the 2023 Sidewise Awards have been announced.
- The winners of the 2022 Australian Shadows Awards have been announced.
- The winners of the 2023 Pegasus Awards have been announced.
- The winners of the 2023 Will Rogers Medallion Awards have been announced.
- The winners of the 2023 Philip K. Dick European Science Fiction Film Festival have been announced.
- Mike Glyer reports that the Frank R. Paul Awards for Magazine and Book Cover Art have been revived.
- Octothorpe discusses the 2023 Hugo Award winners.
Writing, publishing and promotion:
- James Kennedy declares that storytellers are like manipulative cult leaders.
- Robin Jarossi explains why he started writing on Substack.
- Maxim Jakubowski talks about editing anthologies.
- Victoria Strauss reports about yet more scams aimed at writers.
- Andrew Albanese reports that Amazon is sueing scammer that target authors by impersonating Amazon and their affiliates.
- Locus reports that unionised workers at the children's and YA book publisher Scholastic are staging a walkout.
- Ella Creamer reports that UK bookseller WH Smith is launching a buy-back scheme for secondhand books
Comments on the AI controversy:
- Ella Creamer reports that a statement by several publishing associations asks the UK government to help stop AI tools using copyright-protected works with impunity.
- Melissa Heikkilä reports about a new data poisoning tool that allows artists to combat their art being used to train generative AI programs.
- Ethan Shanfeld reports that US President Joe Biden became more worried about AI after watching Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning.
Interviews:
- Roseanna Pendlebury interviews Freya Marske.
- Hannah Rosin interviews N.K. Jemisin and Jordan Peele.
- Elisabeth Egan interviews N.K. Jemisin.
- Alex Wallace interviews Alex Shvartsman
- Anthony Cummins interviews Samatha Harvey.
- Shaad D'Souza interviews Melissa Broder.
- The Hugo Book Club Blog interviews Steve Batterson.
Reviews:
- Liz Bourke reviews System Collapse by Martha Wells
- Paul Weimer reviews The Jinn-Bot of Shantiport by Samit Basu
- C.T. Phipps reviews Crackle and Fire by Russ Colchamiro
- Marlene Harris reviews Night Train to Murder by Simon R. Green
- Matthew Keeley reviews Saevus Corax Deals with the Dead by K.J. Parker.
- Runalong the Shelves reviews The Justice of Kings by Richard Swan
- James Reasoner reviews The City of the Black Flame by Steve Dilks
- James Davis Nicoll reviews The Last Dragoners of Bowbazar by Indra Das
- John Mauro reviews Shadows of Nyn’Dira by H.C. Newell
- Runalong the Shelves reviews The Darkness Before Them by Matthew Ward
- Warner Holme reviews Ebony Gate by Julia Vee and Ken Bebelle
- Tzer Island reviews A Stranger in the Citadel by Tobias S. Buckell
- Runalong the Shelves reviews Doctor Who - The Cradle by Tasha Suri
- Blue Book Balloon reviews The Hexologists by Josiah Bancroft
- Doreen Sheridan reviews Dreambound by Dan Frey
- Jake Casella Brookins reviews Prophet by Sin Blaché and Helen Macdonald
- Ian Mond reviews South by Babak Lakghomi
- Lesa Holstine reviews The Puppets of Spelhorst by Kate diCamillo
- Marlene Harris reviews Phantom Pond by Juneau Black
- Marlene Harris reviews Under the Smokestrewn Sky by A. Deborah Baker
- Fantasy Faction reviews Hills of Heather and Bone by K.E. Andrews.
- Gary K. Wolfe reviews A Haunting on the Hill by Elizabeth Hand
- Natalie Zutter reviews Starling House by Alix E. Harrow.
- Gary K. Wolfe reviews Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
- Marion Deeds reviews Starling House by Alix E. Harrow
- Paperback Warrior reviews Suburban Gothic by Brian Keene and Bryan Smith.
- Rob Bedford reviews Looking Glass Sound by Catriona Ward
- Mark Yon reviews All Hallows by Christopher Golden.
- Jen Lucas reviews Ghost Eaters by Clay McLeod Chapman
- C.T. Phipps reviews Squirm by Hugo Bernard
- Marion Deeds reviews No One Will Come Back For Us by Premee Mohamed
- Runalong the Shelves reviews A Strange Belief: Weird Stories by N.S. Ford
- Russell Letson reviews Lockdown Tales II by Neal Asher
- Blue Book Balloon reviews Normal Rules Don't Apply by Kate Atkinson
- Paul Di Filippo reviews Jewel Box: Stories by E. Lily Yu
- Nina Allan reviews Gunflower by Laura Jean McKay
- Marlene Harris reviews The Year’s Best Dark Fantasy and Horror: Volume Four, edited by Paula Guran
- Paperback Warrior reviews October Screams - A Halloween Anthology, edited by Kenneth W. Cain.
- Alister Davison reviews issue 1 of New Edge Sword and Sorcery Magazine.
- Liam's Lyceum reviews issue 2 of New Edge Sword and Sorcery Magazine.
- Paul Levinson reviews The Fiction Writer's Guide to Alternate History by Jack Dann.
Classics reviews:
- Brian Collins revisits the 1932 dark fantasy story “The Door to Saturn” by Clark Ashton Smith
- Davide Mana revisits the 1936 Conan sword and sorcery novel The Hour of the Dragon by Robert E. Howard.
- Sandy Ferber revisits the 1937 horror novel Fingers of Fear by J.U. Nicolson
- Alan Brown revisits the 1940 science fiction novel Slan by A.E. Van Vogt.
- James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1960 science fiction novel The Status Civilization and the 1960 science fiction collection Notions: Unlimited by Robert Sheckley.
- Ken Lizzi revisits the 1967 sword and planet collection The Coming of the Terrans by Leigh Brackett.
- Gideon Marcus revisits the November 1968 issue of Analog.
- David Levinson revisits the December 1968 issue of If - Worlds of Science Fiction.
- Trish Matson revisits the 1970 Fafhrd and Gray Mouser sword and sorcery novella "Ill Met in Lankhmar" by Fritz Leiber.
- James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1973 science fiction novel More Things in Heaven by John Brunner.
- John O'Neill revisits the 1974 science fiction novel Fire Time by Poul Anderson.
- Joe Kenney revisits the 1977 science fiction novel The Neural Atrocity by Mick Farren
- Paperback Warrior revisits the 1980 horror anthology Voodoo! A Chrestomathy of Necromancy, edited by Bill Pronzini
- Paperback Warrior revisits the 1981 hollow Earth novel Hurok of the Stone Age by Lin Carter.
- Paperback Warrior revisits the 1982 horror novel The Kill by Alan Ryan.
- Joe Kenney revisits the 1986 near future science fiction novel America 2040 by Evan Innes
Crowdfunding:
Con and event reports:
- Jeremy Szal shares his experiences at the 2023 Worldcon in Chengdu, China.
- Marie Vibbert shares her experiences at the 2023 Worldcon in Chengdu, China.
- Nicholas Whyte reports about the Doctor Who panel at the 2023 Worldcon.
- Nicholas Whyte reports about various other panels as well as the opening ceremony and Hugo ceremony, reception and after-party at the 2023 Worldcon.
- Nicholas Whyte shares yet more experiences at the 2023 Worldcon.
- Nicholas Whyte also reports about a visit to the famous panda preserve near Chengdu, China.
- Watch a video about the 2023 Worldcon in Chengdu, China, featuring interviews with Hugo winners Neil Clarke and Chris M. Barkley.
- Rebecca Cairns reports about the Chengdu Science Fiction Museum, site of the 2023 Worldcon.
- Beth McMillan looks ahead at MCM Comic Con in London, UK.
- Jonathan Cowie reports about the 2023 Festival of Fantastic Films in Manchester, UK.
- Mike Glyer reports about the exhibition "Fantasy: Realms of Imagination" at the British Library in London, UK.
- Ella Creamer also reports about the exhibition "Fantasy: Realms of Imagination" at the British Library.
- Mike Glyer remembers the first ever meeting in the Los Angeles Science Fiction Society Clubhouse in Los Angeles, California.
- Jane L. Rosen reports about a Books and Burlesque event in New York City.
- Tammy LaGorce reports that you can now get married at the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, the hotel which inspired Stephen King's novel The Shining.
- Dougie Wallace shares photos of Halloween parties and costumes in Soho, London, UK.
- Sabina Graves shares new attractions and events at various US-based theme parks.
Science and technology:
- Ryan Woo reports that the youngest ever crew of taikonauts is heading to China's Tiangong space station.
- Robert Z. Pearlman reports that a coolant leak aboard the International Space Station cut short the spacewalk of two cosmonauts.
- Alexandra Witze reports that a surprising layer of molten rock was discovered inside Mars.
- Steve Chamberlain interviews astronomer Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock
- Isaac Schultz reports that physicists claim that time travel can be simulated using quantum entanglement
- Kenny Biddle talks about his life as a paranormal investigator.
Toys and collectibles:
- Toy Habits reviews the Mattel Masters of the Universe Masterverse New Adventures Slush Head.
- Toy Habits reviews the Super7 ThunderCats Ultimates Ghost Jaga action figure.
- Denise Dutton reviews the Folkmanis Winged Dragon Puppet
- James Whitbrook shares a look at upcoming figures from Hasbro's Star Wars Black Series toys.
- Germain Lussier shares a look at the Hot Toys Star Wars Grand Admiral Thrawn figure.
- James Whitbrook shares new LEGO sets coming out this November.
- Scott Neitlich inerviews David Silva, creator of Beasts of the Cyberzoic.
- Germain Lussier shares some Halloween themed toy photography by Chuck Eiler a.k.a. Killcutter.
Free online fiction:
- "The Dying Lover of Nogorod" by R.K. Duncan in Beneath Ceaseless Skies.
- "Something That Has Never Touched the Ground" by Marilyn Hope in Beneath Ceaseless Skies.
- "Ruby Throat and Gold" by Karl Dandenell in Wyldblood.
- "Technical Magic" by Samantha Carr in Luna Station Quarterly.
- "The Girl with a City Inside of Her" by Jeannette Ng in Uncanny Magazine.
- "From This Beating Heart, From This Fractured Mind" by Elisabeth Ring in Apex Magazine.
- "You Can’t Repeat the Past" by Tom Gammarino in Interzone.
- "Who They Sacrifice" by Carl Bluesy in Mystery Tribune.
- "On Fallow Fields Where Flames Once Bloomed" by N.A. Blair in Strange Horizons.
- "On the Fox Roads" by Nghi Vo in Tor.com
- "The Canadian Miracle" by Cory Doctorw in Tor.com.
- "Mother Tongue" by Zoe Bellerive in The Sunday Morning Transport.
- “Void” by Julián Herbert, translated by Will Vanderhyden, in Slate Future Tense.
- "Children" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch.
- "The Spare Key" by Ethan Sabatella.
Trailers and videos:
- Watch a trailer for The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes
- Watch a trailer for The Bystanders.
- Watch a trailer for The BATU Project: Adam the First.
- Watch a trailer for There's Something in the Barn.
- Watch a trailer for The Shepherd.
- Watch a trailer for Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
- Watch a trailer for Family Switch.
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