Speculative Fiction Links of the Week for January 3, 2025

 

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 works of 2024, Star Trek Lower Decks and Star Trek in general, Star Wars: Skeleton Crew and Star Wars in general, the 2024 Doctor Who Christmas Special, season 7 of Outlander, season 2 of Silo, Nosferatu, Squid Game, Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, tributes to Olivia Hussey and much more.

Speculative fiction in general:

• Cheryl Eddy shares 42 new science fiction, fantasy and horror books coming out in January 2025.
• Natalie Zutter shares twenty science fiction and fantasy books to look forward to in 2025.
• Every Book a Doorway looks ahead at their most anticipated science nfiction and fantasy books of 2025.
  
• Lauren Salerno points out that science fiction has always been a space for queer expression.
  
• Curtis Evans profiles Fredric Brown and his affinity for circusses.
• Dave Hook shares his appreciation for the work of Julian May.
  
• Doris V. Sutherland shares her appreciation for the work of Naomi Kritzer. 
• Annie Reneau shares Gregory Maguire's inspiration for his fantasy novel Wicked, which became the basis for the eponymous stage musical and movie. 
• io9 remembers the science fiction, fantasy and horror luminaries who died in 2024.
  

 

Best of 2024:

•  Marlene Harris shares her favourite science fiction and fantasy books of 2024.
• Fantasy Faction share their favourite science fiction and fantasy books of 2024. 
• The Toronto Star shares their favourite science fiction, fantasy and horror books of 2024.
  
• SFF World share their favourite science fiction books of 2024. 
  
• SFF World share their favourite horror books of 2024. 
• SFF World share their favourite SFF films and TV shows of 2024.
• Geek Girl Authority share their favourite butt-kicking TV heroines of 2024. 
  

 

Comics and Art:

• Mandy Sun reviews Dorohedoro Vol. 1 by Q. Hayashida
  
• Tom Gauld shares a cartoon about hibernation.
  

 

Film and TV:

• C.T. Phipps calls The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim a fine, but not great animated movie. 
• Kenneth Lowe declares that the Willow TV show did everything right and got cancelled anyway 
• Haley Zapal shares her thoughts on Dune Prophecy. 
• Lacey Baugher Milas calls season 2 of Mayfair Witches rushed.
  
• Leslie Felperin calls the horror movie Beezel a little unoriginal but delivered with toxic wit
  
• Justin Carter shares his appreciation for the animated series Jentry Chau vs. the Underworld and Invincible Fight Girl 
  
• Isaiah Colbert looks back on what happened in the animation world in 2024. 
• Aaron Jones lists his most anticipated science fiction and fantasy movies and TV shows of 2025. 
• io9 lists their most anticipated science fiction, fantasy and horror movies and TV shows of 2025.  
• Jesse Hassenger takes a look at 2025 according to various science fiction films.
  
• Derrick Bryson Taylor revisits the first filmic adaptation of Peter Pan from 1924. 
  
• Fiona Moore revisits the 1969 historical science fiction movie Captain Nemo and the Underwater City and Jason Sacks revisits the 1969 science fiction movie Marooned. 
• Greg Cwik revisits the 1974 horror movies Black Christmas and Deathdream. 
  
• Brian VanHooker shares twenty-five trivia tidbits for the twenty-fifth anniversary of Galaxy Quest.
• Ryan Gajewski interviews several Pixar employees about Disney cutting a trans subplot from the animated film Win or Lose. 
• Andrew Pulver interviews Aaron Taylor-Johnson, star of Kraven the Hunter.
  
• C.T. Phipps interviews Sevier Crespo, producer of Werewolves
  
• Will Tavlin talks about the rise and fall of Netflix and why so many of its movies and TV shows feel so generic. 
• Olivia Hussey, star of Death on the Nile, Romeo and Juliet and Black Christmas, has died aged 73. 
• David Thompson shares an obituary for Olivia Hussey.
  

 

Comments on Star Trek: Lower Decks and Star Trek in general:

• Avery Kaplan shares an ode to Star Trek: Lower Decks.
  
• Tom Nichols discusses how the original Star Trek series was full of Cold War analogies.
  

 

Comments on Star Wars: Skeleton Crew and Star Wars in general:

• Emmet Asher-Perrin shares their thoughts on  “Zero Friends Again”, the latest episode of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew. 
• Rafael Motomayor shares his thoughts on “Zero Friends Again”, the latest episode of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.  
• Germain Lussier shares his thoughts on  “Zero Friends Again”, the latest episode of Star Wars: Skeleton Crew.   
• Kristin Baver explains how the trash monster Tet'niss in Star Wars: Skeleton Crew came to be.
  

 

Comments on the 2024 Doctor Who Christmas Special: 

• Camestros Felapton shares his thoughts on "Joy to the World", the 2024 Doctor Who Christmas Special. 
• Emmet Asher-Perrin shares their thoughts on "Joy to the World", the 2024 Doctor Who Christmas Special. 
• James Whitbrook shares his thoughts on the colourised version of 1969 Doctor Who serial "The War Games" and some changes and additions. 

 

Comments on season 7 of Outlander: 

• Hunter Ingram shares his thoughts on the latest episode of Outlander.
• Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Outlander.
• Paul Levinson shares his thoughts on the latest episode of Outlander.

 

Comments on Nosferatu: 

• Rachel Leishman calls Nosferatu a hyper sexualized, breathtaking take on a story we know oh so well 
  
• Haley Zapal calls Nosferatu a terrifying, graphic, and atmospheric take on the classic vampire tale 
• Leah Schnelbach notes that Nosferatu asks whether evil lurks without, or within? 
• Steve Vertlieb shares his thoughts on Nosferatu.
  
• Director Robert Eggers explains how folklore fueled his take on Nosferatu.
• William Earl interviews David White, prosthetic makeup effects designer on Nosferatu
• Rebecca Rubin reports that Nosferatu had a good opening weekend, even though it was beaten at the box office by Sonic the Hedgehog 3 and Mufasa: The Lion King.
  

 

Comments on Silo:

• Saloni Gajjar shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Silo.
• Melody McCune shares her thoughts on the latest episode of Silo.

 

Comments on season 2 of Squid Game:

• William Hughes shares episode by episode reviews of season 2 of Squid Game.
• Jennifer Maas shares a guide to the new characters of season 2 of Squid Game.
  
• Jennifer Maas interviews Hwang Dong-hyuk, creator of Squid Game. 
  
• Cheryl Eddy interviews Lee Byung-hun, who plays the Front Man in Squid Game. 
• Emma Keates reports that season 2 of Squid Game supposedly broke several viewership records on Netflix.
  

 

 Comments on Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl: 

• Jim Vorel calls Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl a triumphant return.
• Rich Johnson reports about a visit to the set of Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl 
• James Whitbrook explains how American Netflix executives were confused by a specific British expression in Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl.
  

 

Awards:

• The winners of the 2024 Darth Vader Parenthood Award for Oustandingly Horrible Fictional Parents have been announced.
• The winner of the 2024 Jonathan and Martha Kent Fictional Parent of the Year Award has been announced.
• The shortlists for the 2024 Cybils Awards have been announced.
  
• Mike Glyer reports that several scientists, writers and actors of SFF-nal interest are on King Charles III's new year honours list.
  

Writing, publishing and promotion: 

• Alexandra Alter reports about the fashion for elaborately designed deluxe hardcover editions of romantasy books.
• Alec Scott profiles bookbinder Dominic Riley.
  

 

Interviews:

• Seamas O'Reilly interviews Alan Moore.
• Alana Joli Abbott interviews Thea Guanzon.
  
• Arley Sorg interviews LaShawn M. Wanak. 
• Arley Sorg interviews Diana M. Pho.
  
• Authors on the Air interviews Andromeda Romano-Lax 
  

 

Reviews:

• Paul Weimer reviews The Unkillable Princess by Taran Hunt 
• Liz Bourke reviews Wooing the Witch Queen by Stephanie Burgis  
• Adrian Collins reviews Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan
  
• Runalong the Shelves reviews The Lotus Empire by Tasha Suri 
• James Davis Nicoll reviews The Scarlet Throne by Amy Leow 
• Fiona Denton reviews The Prince Without Sorrow by Maithree Wijesekara
• Gary K. Wolfe reviews The Wood at Midwinter by Susanna Clarke 
• Paul Di Filippo reviews The Final Orchard by C. J. Rivera
  
• Marlene Harris reviews Blood Jade by Julia Vee and Ken Bebelle 
• Runalong the Shelves reviews Pennyblade by J.L. Worrad 
• Matt Pechey reviews Schemes & Scandals by Kelley Armstrong
  
• Paul Haggerty reviews The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook by Matt Dinniman
  
• Liz Bourke reviews Sargassa by Sophie Burnham
• Robin Marx reviews Contra Amatores Mundi by Graham Thomas Wilcox
  
• Esmay Rosalyne reviews Lightfall by Ed Crocker 
• Julia Kitvaria Sarene reviews Hell in Haven by David Green
• Niall Harrison reviews We Are All Ghosts in the Forest by Lorraine Wilson
  
• Roseanna Pendlebury reviews Private Rites by Julia Armfield, Orbital by Samantha Harvey and Three Eight One by Aliya Whiteley
• Zak Black reviews Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner. 
• Runalong the Shelves reviews Sherlock Holmes And The Twelve Thefts of Christmas by Tim Major
  
• Russell Letson reviews A Conventional Boy by Charles Stross 
• Paul Di Filippo reviews Suite 13 by David J. Schow 
• Karen Haber reviews Thalamus: The Art of Dave McKean by Dave McKean
  

 

Classics reviews:

• Paperback Warrior revisits the 1936 horror story “Black Hound of Death” by Robert E. Howard.  
• Paperback Warrior revisits the 1936 horror story "Isle of the Undead" by Lloyd A. Eshbach.
  
• Brian Collins revisits the 1954 science fiction story “Skulking Permit” by Robert Sheckley 
• Paperback Warrior revisits the 1955 Conan sword and sorcery novella "The Flame Knife" by L. Sprague De Camp.
  
• James Wallace Harris revisits the 1966 post-apocalyptic novel The Crystal World by J.G. Ballard. 
• James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1967 YA science fiction novel The Beyond by Jeff and Jean Sutton. 
• Gideon Marcus revisits the January 1970 issue of Analog. 
• David Levinson revisits the February 1970 issue of If: Worlds of Science Fiction.
  
• James Davis Nicoll revisits the 1978 science fiction novel The Man Who Used The Universe by Alan Dean Foster
  
• Sandy Ferber revisits the 1986 horror collection A Nest of Nightmares by Lisa Tuttle
• Paperback Warrior revisits the 1990 horror novel Nightmare Child  by Daniel Ransom a.k.a. Ed Gorman.
  
• James Davis Nicoll revisits the 2013 horror collection The Man Who Was Secrett and Other Stories by John Brunner
   
  

Con and event reports:

• Ehud Maimon reports about the 2024 ICon in Tel Aviv, Israel.
  
• Andrew Porter shares videos and photos of the Ninth Annual City Tech Science Fiction Symposium on SF, Artificial Intelligence, and Generative AI in New York City.
• The candidates for the 2025 Transatlatnic Fan Fund TAFF have been announced. 
• Camestros Felapton reports about the exhibition "My City is Yours" by Chinese artist Cao Fei at the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia.
  

 

Science and technology:

• Sharmila Kuthunur reports that NASA's Parker Solar Probe has survived its fly-by of the Sun and is still active.
  
• Brett Tingley shares some photos of snow-covered Martian landscapes taken by ESA's Mars Express Orbiter and NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter 
• Meagan Chappell reports about the unique visual challenges facing astronauts at the Moon's south pole.
  
• Glenn Swanson profiles Colonel Jack L. Hartley, inventor of a dentistry kit for astronauts and noted Star Trek fan. 
  
• Manvir Singh wonders how much language influences our thinking.
• The NHS will begin the world's first trial of an AI tool to identify the risk for diabetes type 2. 
• Pioneering computer engineer Donald Bitzer has died aged 90. 
• Azeem Azhar reports about the immense energy hunger of AI systems and how the US power grid cannot handle this.
• Caroline Davis reports about the prediction of the future that Professor Archibald Montgomery Low made in 1924, many of which turned out to be surprisingly accurate.

 

Gaming: 

• Marc Normandin calls Indiana Jones and the Great Circle the first great Indiana Jones action game.
• Crossexamining Crime reviews the Death in Paradise jigsaw puzzle. 
• Marc Tracy reports about some rule changes in Dungeons & Dragons.
  

 

Toys and collectibles:

• Lisa Young reports about the "Lego lost at sea" project, which tracks the more than 4.7 million Lego pieces which were swept over board in a shipping container from the freighter Tokio Express off the coast of Cornwall in 1997.
• James Whitbrook looks ahead at new Lego sets coming out in January 2025.
  
• Sabina Graves looks at the weirdest tie.in merchandise of 2024. 
• Watch a Lego version of the Superman trailer
  

 

Free online fiction: 

• "The Legend of the Echo Well" by Stephen Embleton in Omenana
  
• "A Ritual of Thieves" by Malcom North in Swords and Sorcery Magazine.
  
• "Their Wings as Powdery as Bones" by Avra Margariti in Apex Magazine.
• "Ceasing to Be" by Garrett Ashley in Apex Magazine. 
• "Child of the Mountain" by Gunnar De Winter in Clarkesworld. 
• "When There Are Two of You: A Documentary" by Zun Yu Tan in Clarkesworld. 
• "Four Questions with Something Like God" by Carlie St. George in The Dark.
  
• "Theatrical Revival" by Kristine Kathryn Rush.
  

Trailers and videos:

• Watch a trailer for Love Me.